Grain-elevator cleaner



April 3, 1929. N. o. WADDELL GRAIN ELEVATOR CLEANER Filed Jan. 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Shegt Mm 5 6 7 m II... I Et.r1 1 1 .D 1 1 r1111 1 1/1 1/1/11/11/ 1 f H I 1 oo n 1 0 1 1 I V 1 w fl 1 u .7 1 11 1 411) 1 11 1 1 1111111 1111122: mu 51 11111111 1 111111111111 11 11 11111111111 1 1111 1 1 111 11111111111111111 1111 1111111 2?: 1

April 23, 1929.

N. o. WADDELL GRAIN ELEVATOR CLEANER Filed Jan 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet gmnto'o N.U.Wad flElL Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

NORMAN O. WADDELL, OF STRATTON, NEBRASKA.

GRAIN-ELEVATOR CLEANER.

Application filed January 27, 1927. Serial No.164,076..

In the operation of grain elevators a chokeup is not an uncommon occurrence. This happens when a gate is opened too high or is neglected to be closed. Other causes are leaky gates, slipping belts and engine or motor troubles.

When a choke-up occurs the elevator must be cleaned before the machinery can he started. This is not a very pleasant task and a dust explosion hazard is incurred be- ;ause artificial light is required to be used.

In accordzmce with this invention a cleaner attachment is associated with the elevator and is readily operable from the working floor at any time to remove the choking grain and deliver it into a bin from which it is'subsequently delivered back into the elevator to be discharged in the accustomed way.

ll hile the drawings illustrate a preferred embodimentof the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs, and requirements the design may be varied and such other cluinges in theininor dc ails of construction a may be resorted to Tllll'lll] the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

F or a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof reference isto be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which,-

Figure l is a sectional. view of the lower portion of a grain clef-rotor, provided with means for clearing a choke-up embodying the invention, the choke relieving means being in section. I I

Figure 2 is a side view of the choke relieving means and a portion of the grain elevator boot illustrating the clearer arranged to operate therein.

lligure 3:3 a detail view of the lower portion of the choke remover, the connection between the boot of the ehwator and the device being in section. v

Figure. l an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the lino4s t of Figure 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters. The numeral 1 designates the working floor, through which the elevator passes, and terminates in the usual pit t-herebelow. The

. A short grain elevator comprises a casing 2 and :1.

contained conveyor consisting of a belt 3 and buckets 4, said conveyor being adapted to travel through the boot 5 at the lower end of the elevator and disposed within the usual pit. A lateral opening 6 is provided in a side of the boot 5 adjacent the bottom thereof, and this opening admits of the removal of clogging grain in the event of a working floor 1, and is provided with a.

sprocket wheel 13 which isconnected with the sprocket wheel ll'by means of a drive chain 141. A crank handle 15 is fitted to the shaft 12 and provides convenient means for rotating said shaft when it is required to operate the choke removing device. "A shaft 16 is located at the lower end of the casing 7 and supports the lower end of the endless carrier. An opening 17 is formed in the side of the casing 7 facing the casing 2. section of pipe 18 projects from the casing 7 in line with the opening 17 and the end remote from the casing 7 is provided with a plate 19 which .is adapted to be, lugged or otherwise secured. to the casing 20f the elevator to admit of the section of pipe 18 registering with the opening 6. The

pipe 18 provides a conduit and receives a screw conveyor 20, which operates to positively move the grain or other material through the conduit 18 from the boot of the elevator into the lower end of the casing 7 comprising the choke removing device. The screw conveyor 20 has a close fit within the conduit 18 to preclude passage of grain from the elevator to the casing 7, except when the screw conveyor is rotated. It will thus be understood that the provision ofa gate or other closing means to prevent passage of the grain through the conduit 18 is not necessary;

A clearer 21 is located within the boot 5 and operates to remove obstructing or clogging grain, resulting in a choke-up. The

clearer 21 consists of a bar having teeth along an edge thereof and having one end reduced and plain, as indicated at 22, and operating through a guide or keeper 23. The clearer 21 has an eccentric, or crank connection with the shaft 16, as indicated at 2%, and in the rotation of the shaft 16, the clearer receives a combined oscillatory and longitudinal movement, and as a result, clogging grain within the boot of'the elevator is loosened and caused to move towards the outlet 6.

A bin is located adjacent a side of the casing 7 to receive the grain discharged therefrom. A chute 26 connects the lower portion of the bin 25 with the boot 5 of the elevator, whereby to return the grain to the elevator when in operation after removal of the obstructing or clogging material. A cut-off 2T controls'the discharge opening in the side of the bin 25 with which the chute 26 connects. A rod 28 is connected to the cut-off 27 and extends through the working floor 1 to be operted when it is required to effect return of the grain from the bin 25 to the elevator.

The elevator may be of any'preferred type of construction, and in accordance with the invention the usual cleaner opening in the side of the boot 5 is left open and the conduit 18 is connected to the'boot 5 so as to reg ister with the opening 6, thereby forming connecting means between the elevator and the choke removing device. Under normal conditions grain is prevented from passing from the elevator to the casing 7 by reason of the screw conveyor the passage of saidgrain through the conduit 18 when the screw conveyoris at rest. However, when the elevator becomes clogged or choked, the crank handle 15 is rotated, thereby operating the endless carrier within the casing? and rotating the shaft 16 and the v conveyor 20. This results in a combined ost- ,latory and longitudinal movement of the clearer 21, with the result that the grain is loosened and caused to flow towards the outlet 6, and into the conduit 18 through which it is positively moved and drawn by the action of the'screw' conveyor 20. The grain is elevated within the casing 7 i charged into the bin 25. After the elevator has been started the operator may move the cut-off 27 to uncover the opening and permit the grain to discharge from the bin through the chute 26 intothe boot of the elevator. The device, being located below the working floor 1 is out of the way and may be brought into service at a moments notice and no inconvenience is experienced in operating it or the cutoff 27, when it is required to return the grain from the bin 25 to the elevator.

20 which obstructs and dis-- Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A grain elevator having a choke-removing opening in its lower portion, a clearer disposed within the lower portion of the elevator for loosening clogging grain to effect delivery thereof through the cleaner opening, a supplemental elevator disposed at one side of the main elevator and below the working floor, a conduit forming connecting means between the lower ends of the main and auxiliary elevators, and a conveyor within the conduit for drawing the obstructing grain from the main elevator and delivering it into the casing of the auxiliary elevator.

2. A grain elevator having a choke-removing opening in its lower portion, a clearer disposed within the lower portion of the elevator for loosening clogging grain to effect delivery thereof through the cleaner opening, a supplemental elevator disposed at one side of the main elevator and below the working floor, a conduit forming corn necting means between the lower ends of the main and auxiliary elevators, a conveyor within the conduit for drawing the obstructing grain from the main elevator and delivering it into the casing of the auxi iary elevator, a bin for receiving the grain from the auxiliary elevator and connected with the main elevator for returning the grain thereto, and a cut-off for'con rolling the communication between the said bin and the main elevator, whereby the clogging grain removed from the main elevator may be returned thereto at will.

3. The combination with a main elevator having a discharge opening in its lower portion, and a clearer located within the lower portion of the elevatorfor loosening obstructing grain and effecting movement thereof towards'thc discharge opening, of an auxiliary elevator placed at one side of the main elevator below the working floor, a conduit connecting the lower ends of the main and auxiliary elevators, a screw conveyor within said conduit and normally obstructing the passage of grain therethrough, but when rotated serving to positively move the grain through the conduit, a shaft supporting the lower end of the endless carrier of the auxiliary elevator and receiving the screw conveyor and having crank connection with the said cleaner to effect both an oscillatory and a longitudinal movement thereof, and means above the working floor for actuating the auxiliary elevator when it is required to remove obstructing or choking grain from the main elevator.

In testimony whereof NORMAN O. WADDELL. [n 8.

I aflix my signature. 

